Popes of the Past

A strange silence shrouded the Basilica Icon. A fog, which appeared out of nowhere, covered every inch of the floor. There was a twilight-like glimmer in the darkness, but it lacked warmth. Instead, it was full of malice and madness.

Such a glimmer had never appeared during any Tide of Chaos. Calaxus and the others had no idea what it was. But Hao Ren, after having seen the illusion earlier, knew that it was a sign of Lockmarton.

Lockmarton's breath had seeped into the real world, first appearing as the huge shadows floating over the city of Louen, then the twilight near the Basilica Icon.

There were no survivors, but they also found no bodies or signs of a struggle.

"There's no one here. No dead bodies," Hao Ren muttered to himself in a low voice. "This place is supposed to house the church's most powerful combat force, but everyone has seemingly disappeared into thin air."